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Yard MD blog: Create your own concrete leaf castings

By Rob ZimmerPost-Crescent Media
9:18 a.m. CDT July 11, 2014

Creating your own concrete leaf castings is a fun, easy and rewarding garden project. Use large leaves such as rhubarb, castor bean, hosta and others to create bird baths, feeders or other outdoor decorations.(Photo: Rob Zimmer/Post-Crescent Media)

Cement castings of huge rhubarb, burdock or hosta leaves are always eye-catching in the garden, especially when hand-painted in beautiful shades of greens, gold or even left the natural concrete color. If you've seen these huge leaf castings at local gift shops, art or craft fairs, you know they can be quite expensive. Today, I'll show you how you can make your own for just the cost of a package of cement and a little bit of sand.

Making concrete leaf castings is fun and the more you experiment with different types of leaves, the more exciting the art becomes. Start out with something easy, like a hosta leaf, then move on to even bigger projects, such as rhubarb or castor bean. You may even want to try your hand at creating mini leaf castings using maples, small hostas, oaks, ligularia and others.

To begin, you need just four things: some water, some playground sand, a bag of Portland cement (the most finely textured cement mix available with no rocks or pebbles mixed in) and, of course, your leaves.

First, decide which leaves you wish to cast. Select as many as you wish. Be sure you have a nice, flat surface to work on.

Make small mounds or piles of sand on the flat surface slightly larger than the leaf you are casting. Then, simply lay your leaf over that mound. The mound of sand serves to create a natural looking curve in the finished casting and helps create a bowl shape for use as a bird bath, bird feeder or container of some kind. Be careful not to make too deep a cup, as these are prone to cracking and breaking.

Next, mix the cement according to package directions. Be sure to wear facemask, goggles and rubber gloves when mixing as the fine, powdery dry cement can be harmful if breathed in or caught in the eyes. Always use rubber gloves when mixing and handling as the cement mix acts like sandpaper against your skin and can cause abrasions.

For decorative purposes, you may wish to add concrete dye as you are mixing. Concrete dyes are available in many different colors.

Once the cement reaches the appropriate consistency, simply grab handfuls and spread onto the leaf you are casting. Apply to an even layer of about one-quarter to one-half inch thick, depending on the size of your leaf. The larger the leaf, the thicker the layer. For large leaves such as rhubarb, large burdock or castor bean, you will likely use up to one inch of concrete.

Spread evenly across the surface, applying extra thick toward the base of the leaf. Use your finger tips to detail and smooth the leaf edges and prevent any sharp points or shards.

Once the concrete is applied, let dry for 24-48 hours. I prefer 48 hours to be sure the mixture has completely hardened. Once dry, carefully turn over the leaf casting, peel or brush away any leaf material stuck to the concrete and you are ready to decorate any way you wish.

Many people prefer the natural look of the concrete, but your new creation can be painted in whatever color or shade you can dream up. I prefer to use acryllics, however many other types of paint will work great. Metallic shades, especially swirled mixtures, work especially well.

Once painted, spray with a sealer, if desired, and your beautiful leaf casting is ready to display.